Davutoglu: "Tunusia's democratic revolution could be a model for other countries"

If it can avoid pitfalls on the path to elections, Tunisia 's revolution could provide a model for other countries seeking reform, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters yesterday on a trip to Tunisia for meetings with the caretaker government. A popular uprising in the North African state last month ended President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali's 23 years of rule, sending shockwaves through the Arab world and inspiring a similar revolt in Egypt . Davutoglu arrived in Tunis yesterday with Council of Europe (CoE) Secretary General Torbjorn Jagland to help Tunisia make a smooth and peaceful transition to democratic rule, saying Tunisia's peaceful transformation is important because it could set an example for other countries in the region. Davutoglu said Turkey 's goal is to recalibrate and position events across the Middle East as the result of a "domino effect" to the "proper axis." He said that since the events started in Tunisia , Tunisians showed that, as Arabs, they were able to express their demands through peaceful means and realize the transformation. " Turkey has mobilized all resources for Tunisia during its (current) term as the Council of Europe president," Davutoglu added.